British Open preview, tee times and odds: Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods under spotlight at St. Andrews

Things couldn't be more interesting at St. Andrews this weekend.

Will either of golf's giants, past or present, hoist the Claret Jug this Sunday?

Getty Images

Photo:

The Open Championship (known on this side of the pond as the British Open), kicks off in the wee hours of the morning Thursday here in the United States, with the best players in the world, save for the injured Rory McIlroy, teeing off at the Olde Couse at St. Andrews.

It's a venue that has seen two championships for Tiger Woods, and one that could see red-hot Jordan Spieth win his third straight major in 2015.

In a light moment during a pre-tournament presser, Woods, a 14-time Major Champion, shook off suggestions that at 39 he should mull calling it a career.

"Well, retirement? I don't have any AARP card yet, so I'm a ways from that," Woods, who has returned to form after a solid showing at Greenbrier two weeks ago, said. "I'm still young. I'm not 40 yet. I know some of you guys think I'm buried and done, but I'm still right here in front of you."

If there is any golf course Woods can use to make a return to glory, it is St. Andrews. In 2000, he won his first British Open at a whopping 19-under-par, a major championship record. In 2005, Woods won by five strokes to achieve a second career grand slam.

Spieth, just 22-years-old, has won four times on Tour this season including the Masters and U.S. Open. And immediately, the Texan is being called the next Tiger Woods. He could get closer to history this week by going 3-for-3 in major tournaments this season.

“I think the parallels that are drawn between me and Tiger are unfair,” Spieth told The Guardian Wednesday. “I think that’s something that people are looking for but is not there with anybody right now because it’s something I don’t think that can be compared until at least midway through their career.”

Woods (25/1 odds) and Spieth (9/2) are clearly the most intriguing storylines, but it is Dustin Johnson (10/1) who will be feeling the most pressure, aside from perhaps the two aforementioned golfers.

Not only will the notorious long-hitter have to shake off the burden of having three-putted on the final green at last month's U.S. Open to lose the title to Spieth, he also will be tasked with playing alongside him Thursday and Friday.

Be sure to also keep an eye on Bubba Watson (33/1), Ricky Fowler (14/1) and Jimmy Walker (55/1), each of whom has won already this year.